Last year I was able to participate in the WebWise Conference on Libraries and Museums in the Digital World and gained a great education on the successes and opportunities available to historic sites in just a few days (see my postings). The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and The Wolfsonian-Florida International University have just announced the 2009 WebWise Conference on February 26-27, 2009, at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., with a pre-conference workshop on February 25. Incredibly, registration is free—what a value! For information on the conference and related events, go to http://webwise2009.fcla.edu.
The 2009 WebWise Conference theme is “Digital Debates.” Participants will explore the ethical, strategic, and programming challenges posed by emerging technologies. Designed as “debates” between expert panelists from the museum, library, academic, and technology fields, each session of the WebWise Conference will address “big issues” that digital technologies pose for cultural institutions. Questions under debate include:
- What happens to an institution’s control when audiences become collaborators?
- What are the rights and responsibilities of cultural institutions when it comes to digital technologies and an online presence?
- How can cultural institutions collaborate with users, peer institutions, and/or corporate entities without compromising their own identity/integrity?
- When should museums and libraries invest in technologies, and when are such investments extraneous to an institution’s core mission?
The 2009 WebWise Conference features keynote addresses by Michael R. Nelson, professor at Georgetown University and former director of Internet Technology and Strategy at IBM, and Jonathan Palfrey, professor and vice-dean at Harvard University’s Law School and Faculty co-director of the Harvard Berkman Center for Internet & Society. On the evening of February 25, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is supporting the WebWise welcome reception. The reception will feature innovative digital media and learning projects supported by MacArthur.
If you do attend and you’re from an historic site, let me know and let’s get together and discuss possible partnerships with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. You know where to reach me: max_vanbalgooy@nthp.org.
Conference registration is full but if you are really wish to attend, add yourself to the waiting list. This happened to me last year and a space opened up a couple weeks later.